Edward IV. was now completely master of his kingdom. IV. Edward Queen Margaret was sent back to France, for the birth of a son supreme. to Edward in 1470 seemed to make any possible claim by a Lancastrian quite improbable. 1. Foreign policy. a, Burgundy. 1475. Following Henry V.'s example a treaty was made with Burgundy and a claim was put forward to the French throne. Vast preparations were made. The finest army which England had ever sent abroad landed at Calais in July, 1475. To make it thoroughly efficient, every device had been put into practice. Parliament voted large sums, the clergy in convocation added still more to the general fund. A third means was employed, which was as profitable as it was illegal: benevolences, or (Stubbs iii. 219 & 224) gifts free in name but forced in fact from wealthy subjects, often by the personal solicitations of the King, were levied. This practice became very common and it formed one of the b, France. chief popular complaints in later reigns. Louis XI. would have found it impossible to make a strong opposition to the combined attack of Burgundy and England. He trusted to his diplomatic skill to escape from his unpleasant difficulty. The Duke of Burgundy was engaged at the time in a war with Germany. When he returned he found Louis had won over Edward to his side. The two kings had met on the bridge of Pecquigny T. of Pecquigny, with a grating between them and had arranged a truce. Louis promised to pay annually a large sum of money to England. This Louis called a pension, Edward a tribute. To Louis the name did not matter as long as he gained his point, while Edward too was more than satisfied, for he had obtained money from his subjects for the war and from his foes for the peace. The Dauphin was to marry the Princess Elizabeth. At home trouble was brewing. Richard of Gloucester had 2. Fall of Clarence. married Anne Neville. His claim on the lands of Warwick were resisted by Clarence, who had done his best to prevent the marriage. Edward, however, supported his younger brother, and, by an Act of Parliament, the vast estates were equally divided. The King suspected his brother of traitorous b, Quarrel with designs, and this was increased by Clarence's ideas of a second marriage. Isabella Neville had died, and, with the approval of his sister Margaret, the duke wished to marry the daughter and heiress of Burgundy. Edward had no wish to see his brother a powerful continental prince, and put every obstacle in his way. This caused a fresh estrangement between the brothers. Soon after Edward himself accused his brother of treason before the House of Lords. He was condemned, and, it is said, drowned in a butt of Malmsey wine. He had played an c, His execution, ignoble part, and was the victim of a disappointed ambition. His weak nature made him the prey of any stronger will. Shakespeare's summary of his character,-" false, fleeting, perjured Clarence,"—is as apt as it is true. a, Quarrel with Richard of Gloucester. Edward about Burgundian marriage. 1478. 3. Foreign affairs. a. Scottish War, 1482. The removal of Clarence brought peace. Though Richard of Gloucester hated the Wydvilles, the Scottish war, of which he had direction, prevented any open quarrel. James III., renowned for his love of arts and science, was no fit monarch of the turbulent Scottish lords. His very brothers revolted against him. However, Edward wished to secure a Scottish, as he had done a French, alliance, by a marriage. It was all arranged when suddenly, by the prompting of Louis, James tried to invade England. Gloucester, with Albany, the Scottish king's brother, invaded Scotland and took Edinburgh and Berwick. But in France misfortune attended Edward. France. Louis, finding Edward's alliance was useless, and desiring to unite France, broke the Treaty of Pecquigny, and seized the opportunity to arrange a marriage between the Dauphin and Margaret of Burgundy. Edward had been completely duped by his clever rival, but before he could take any action, he died. b, Hostility of 1483. 4. Domestic Policy. (Stubbs iii. § 359). His government, especially after Warwick's death, was an absolutism. He called Parliament seldom and used it little. Money was often taken by force. The administration of justice was much interfered with, and the law was disregarded. Torture was often used. Mercy there was none for those who fell beneath the King's displeasure and came within his power. The number of persons put to death during the reign is unparalleled every kind of resistance was put down ruthlessly and cruelly. Yet trade increased, and Edward retained much of his popularity, especially with the trading classes and the inhabitants of the towns, to the end of his reign. EDWARD V. 1483 (April to June). i. The Parties af Court 1. Wydvilles 2. Lords of the Council 3. Old Nobility 4. Richard Duke of Gloucester ii. Events leading to Gloucester's supremacy 1. Attack on Wydvilles 2. Attack on Council 3. Attack on Edward V.'s title 4. Attack on London 5. Richard proclaimed King Court. (Stubbs iii. 226.) The young king was only twelve years of age when his father. The parties at died. It was necessary, therefore, to arrange for the government and for a Protector to be named. There were three distinct parties in the Court at the end of Edward IV.'s reign, though he had managed to keep them united. His death removed the only bond of union between them. There was a short struggle for supremacy, and victory fell to those who were quickest to move. (1) The Wydvilles, though holding high places at Court, and 1. Wydvilles. possessing lands and money, were not popular. They were regarded as "novi homines by the old nobility, and had done nothing to win the respect of the country at large. The Queen's brothers, Lord Rivers, Edward and Richard Wydville, and her sons by her first marriage, the Marquis of Dorset and Sir Richard Grey, were only influential as long as Edward IV. lived. (2) The Lords of the Council, who might have obtained 2. Lords of the the supremacy, were divided between mistrust of the Wydvilles and allegiance to the House of York. Lord Stanley, Hastings, and Bishop Morton, were the chief members of the Council, Council. and each played an important part in after events (3) The 3. Old nobility. third party was that of the old nobility who could for the most part claim a lineage equal to the royal house, and had wealth scarcely less. They hated the Wydvilles who had caused their exclusion from power. The most prominent of this party were Stafford of Buckingham, and the Earls of Northumberland and Suffolk. Gloster. Richard of Gloucester, the king's uncle, stood apart from all 4. Richard Duke of parties. Whether he now quickly decided upon the course he took, or whether it was the result of a life's ambition, can never actually be proved. At any rate he saw his way soonest and pursued it boldly, unscrupulously using any means, and ruthlessly sweeping away any obstacle. Events moved quickly, and in less than three months he was king of England. II. Events leading supremacy. At Edward IV.'s death, the duke was in Yorkshire, the to Gloucester's Queen and Council in London, and the young King with Lord Rivers and Sir Richard Grey at Ludlow. The question of the King's guardianship arose at once. The Queen wished her family to remain supreme, and to enforce her claim Dorset seized the Treasury, and Edward Wydville the Fleet. On the other hand, Hastings wanted the Council to rule England with 1. Attack on Wyd- Gloucester as Protector. Lord Rivers and Grey at once set out for London, bringing the king with them. Gloucester also came. The latter met Buckingham on the way and arranged the course of subsequent events. The King from Stony Stratford sent his uncles to meet the dukes, who at once boldly arrested them on a charge of treason. Then, seizing the King, they marched on London. The news caused Dorset and Edward Wydville to fly, while the Queen and her second son took sanctuary at Westminster. villes. 2. Attack on Council. 3, Attack on Edward V.'s title. The Council, led by Hastings and possibly compelled by Richard, elected the latter Protector. His supporters, (Stubbs iii. 229.) Buckingham and others, were rewarded with offices, and London was filled with his retainers. Suddenly Hastings was arrested and beheaded, Morton was thrown into prison, and the Duke of York was taken into his uncle's charge. He and his brother the King were placed in the Tower of London. The Wydvilles had been crushed and the Council overawed. Nine days later Dr. Shaw in a sermon from S. Paul's Cross asserted Richard's right to the throne, whilst Buckingham did the same in the city. Edward IV.'s marriage was declared to have been due to sorcery. It was stated that he had been betrothed to Lady Eleanor Butler before his marriage with Elizabeth Grey, and betrothal in mediæval times had scarcely less weight than actual marriage. Therefore, it was argued, the children of his marriage were illegimate, and, as the children of the ill-fated Clarence were attainted by their father's treason, Richard remained the sole heir to the throne. (Stubbs iii. 230.) 4. Attack on London. Neither the people nor the city dignitaries received his claim with enthusiasm, but the presence of a large armed force prevented any opposition and probably enforced obedience. Some of the Lords and Commons waited on Richard at Baynard's Castle and asked him to accept the crown. This of claimed king. course he did, and, on the 26th June, 1483, presided over Parliament as the hereditary and elected King. The same day Rivers and Grey were executed at Pontefract and the little princes disappeared. 5. Richard pro RICHARD III. 1483—1485. THE LAST ACT OF THE WARS OF THE ROSES. i. Richard III.'s Character ii. Buckingham's Rebellion 1483 a. Buckingham's position b. His claim to Estates refused d. Failure of the Rising: Buckingham's Flood' e. Execution of Buckingham 1483 iii. Richard's attempts to strengthen his position 1. Parliament 2. Foreign Policy 3. Home Policy 4. Marriage proposal iv. Henry (VII.)'s Invasion: Battle of Bosworth 1485 (Lancastrian victory) Richard III. (Stubbs iii. 231 ) The new King was the youngest brother of Edward IV. He I. Character of was a typical product of his age. It has been customary to describe him as exceptionally wicked, but tested by his contemporaries he was no worse than they. Like so many of them, he had ability without principle. He was an able statesman, and a courageous general. From his earliest years he had spent his life fighting for the cause of York. He had become renowned in the skirmishes so common in the Civil War. At Barnet he handled his troops with skill against the great Warwick. He never deserted his brother like Clarence though he took care to enlarge his fortune by marrying Anne Neville. He showed he had the courage of his opinions when he openly protested against the Peace of Pecquigny (see page 133). His murders of Edward of Wales, Henry VI., and Clarence are only traditions, though the disappearance of the young princes must be laid to his charge, just as Henry IV. can never be acquitted of Richard II.'s death. He had ability and popularity, though he never succeeded in inspiring confidence, and he was relentlessly cruel in securing his ends. He was certainly no worse than Edward IV., but his reputation suffered at the hands of both Lancastrians and Yorkists. (Henry VI., pt. iii. v, 5 & 6; Richard III. I, 4.) rebellion. The new king was crowned, and having rewarded Bucking- II. Buckingham's ham, Howard, and Percy, he set out on a royal progress through the country. In the north he was received with (Stubbs iii. 233.) favour. But in the south the news of the death of the princes caused uneasiness and unrest. This soon took a more serious shape. The Duke of Buckingham was not only the repre- a, Buckingham's sentative of the younger branch of the Beaufort line from John position. |